Group visits
Bring a group to the museum
Clubs, schools, historical societies and social groups are welcome by arrangement — £2 per head, up to 20 people, with two weeks' notice.
Book a group visitRafael “Rafa” Benítez is one of the most successful football managers of his generation to have made his home in West Kirby — a Spanish coach whose career took in some of Europe's biggest clubs, anchored for years by a family base on Merseyside.
The Miracle of Istanbul
Benítez managed Liverpool from 2004 to 2010, a period that included one of the most celebrated results in the club's history: the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final, in which Liverpool came back from 3–0 down at half-time against AC Milan to win on penalties, a match still remembered as the “Miracle of Istanbul.” He also won the FA Cup with Liverpool in 2006.
A career across Europe — and a return to Merseyside
Beyond Liverpool, Benítez has managed Valencia (winning two La Liga titles and the UEFA Cup), Inter Milan, Chelsea, Napoli and Newcastle United, among others. In 2021 he returned to Merseyside once more, this time as manager of Everton — a rare instance of a manager crossing the Liverpool–Everton divide. Throughout much of this well-travelled career, West Kirby has remained the family home he returns to on Merseyside.
Related research
Sources & further reading
- Rafael Benítez — Wikipedia
- See also the full bibliography for this Research section
